WEST ILKERTON FARM
Victoria Eveleigh

West Ilkerton Farm, Barbrook, Lynton, North Devon. EX35 6QA

Telephone/Fax: 01598 752310

www.westilkerton.co.uk
www.tortoise-publishing.co.uk

A wonderful and unusual way to see Exmoor. Travel across farmland and open moorland in a purpose-built wagon pulled by our friendly Shire horses, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. With 16 years' experience in driving heavy horses and a lifetime of caring for horses - much of it spent on Exmoor - we are keen to share our love of horses and Exmoor with others. The tours are ideal for all ages, and we aim to give all our guests the chance to handle and drive the horses if they wish. Please bring warm, waterproof clothes and an adventurous spirit! Prices: £10 adults (16 years old); £8 older children (10-16 years old); £5 children (under 10 years old).

Well-behaved dogs are allowed provided that they are still and silent, and other guests in the wagon do not mind dogs. £1 small lap dogs. £2 large dogs. If you want to leave your dog, a loose box can be provided, or you can park your car in a shed so that it is sheltered from the sun.

Please ask if you have any special requirements. Individual lessons in driving and handling heavy horses can be given. Price on application. There is a discount for large groups.

Our tours are very popular so please book your places.

Wagons and carts can be made to order
Used carts, wagons and harness are occasionally for sale. Please contact West Ilkerton for details.

We have converted half of our Grade II listed farmhouse into a very comfortable self-contained holiday cottage, with central heating and double glazing, that sleeps up to 6 people. West Ilkerton Farm Holiday Cottage is rated Visit Britain 'Four Star'.

Accomodation
The cottage can sleep up to six people in three bedrooms: one with a king-size four-poster, one with a king-size bed and one with twin beds. There are two bathrooms: one with a bath and one with a bath plus shower. The modern, well-equipped kitchen has an oil-fired Rayburn, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and washing machine/tumbledryer. Water is from our private borehole with UV-filter. There is a TV/VCR/DVD and radio/cassette/CD player, as well as plenty of toys, videos, books and games. A payphone with dedicated line is provided.

Children
Children are welcome. A travel cot, high chair and playpen can be provided free of charge and babysitting is by arrangement.

Pets
Well behaved pets are welcome by arrangement.

Nearby Activities
Lynmouth, Lynton and the North Devon coast are about 4 miles away. There is a riding stables about 0.5 mile away. There are many way-marked walks from the farm, and direct access to open moorland.

West Ilkerton Farm Holiday Cottage is open all year round. Bargain short breaks are available from November to March

West Ilkerton is a 240-acre hill livestock farm with grazing rights on Ilkerton Ridge, an adjoining area of moorland. We run the farm as a family business, with no employees.

Contractors are used for major jobs like shearing and silage-making. The farm is managed under an Environmentally Sensitive Area agreement.

Our aim is to blend modern knowledge with traditional sustainable farming methods using local breeds. There have been North Devon cattle and Exmoor Horn sheep at West Ilkerton for hundreds of years.

Cattle
We keep a herd of about 25 pedigree North Devon (“Red Ruby”) suckler cows. The cows calve from January until May. The calves stay with their mothers until they are about nine months old, when they are weaned.

The best female calves are kept as herd replacements and the rest are sold — usually to other farms for breeding. The male calves are kept at the farm, and are destined for the prime beef trade.

Sheep
Our foundation flock consists of around 140 Exmoor Horn ewes, which are run with a flock of approximately 70 Exmoor Horn X Border Leicester ewes.

Lambing is during the last week of March and the first three weeks of April. The sheep are kept for wool and meat.

Exmoor Ponies
We have eleven free-living Exmoor mares who usually run on Ilkerton Ridge and produce Exmoor foals. However, last year our breeding programme was upset by a stray Welsh Cob stallion. The result is that we will have eight Welsh Cob x Exmoor weaned foals to sell this summer (they should grow to about 14 hands, and would make a great matched driving team!). In addition, we will have some registered Exmoor mares for sale. Please contact us for details.

Victoria Eveleigh has written two books about Exmoor ponies, which are beautifully illustrated by her husband, Chris, and published at West Ilkerton Farm.

The books, "Katy's Exmoor" and "Katy's Exmoor Adventures", have been called "modern Moorland Mousie stories", and have become bestsellers. They make a perfect present for any child (or adult) who loves horses, the countryside and a good story. The third book in the trilogy, "Katy's Exmoor Ponies", will be published in the summer, 2005.

The author, illustrator, publisher and sales team are Victoria and Chris working from West Ilkerton, so private and trade customers are assured personal service.

For more information please visit www.tortoise-publishing.co.uk or email [email protected]

Exmoor National Park
West Ilkerton Farm is in North Devon and the northern coastal region of Exmoor National Park. Exmoor covers 267 square miles of varied countryside spanning adjacent areas of West Somerset and North Devon.

It is one of 13 National Parks in the UK which have been created to protect their special value in terms of landscape, ecology and open air recreation. Compared with many of the other National Parks, Exmoor is small and quiet.

It has many distinctive features, including herds of wild Red Deer, free-living Exmoor ponies, local breeds of farm animals, a spectacular coastline, beautiful open moors and heaths, ancient oak woodlands, traditional beech hedges, lovely villages, historic buildings and archaeological features, and rare species of plants and animals.

North Devon
North Devon is an area of over 850 square miles of some of Britain's finest coast and countryside. It is a region full of contrasting landscapes, from stunning coastlines and beaches to the wilds of Exmoor and the traditional farmland of Tarka Country.

The towns and villages are similarly diverse. Barnstaple is the largest town in North Devon, with all the amenities you would expect from a thriving regional centre. There are coastal resorts like Ilfracombe, Woolacombe, Braunton, Bideford and Croyde, picturesque fishing villages like Clovelly and Lee and rural villages and hamlets like Brendon and Hartland.

CONTACT
WEST ILKERTON FARM

CLICK HERE to email
[email protected]

WEST ILKERTON FARM
Victoria Eveleigh

West Ilkerton Farm, Barbrook, Lynton, North Devon. EX35 6QA

Telephone/Fax 01598 752310

www.westilkerton.co.uk
www.tortoise-publishing.co.uk

How to Find West Ilkerton Farm
At Barbrook, take the turning by the garage (signposted Ilkerton and Shallowford). At the top of the first steep incline you will find a group of buildings and a lane to the right. Take this right hand turning, and carry on up the lane, for about 0.5 mile, to West Ilkerton. Drive into the cobbled courtyard, and knock on the door with the porch.